can week old EE chicks be feather sexed?

[tabithas]

They are indeed from cackle hatchery! I have not heard anymore attempts to crow, but they are outside now, and I don't hear them nearly as much as when they were in the garage. I have noticed that since they went outside, the chest bumping, rooster like behaviors have seemed to decrease. They are getting huge and loving outside! I will try to keep this thread posted with pics of them as they grow and we will see what this chick turns into!

 

[RoxyBird]

Very cool- I'm curious too... would love to see updates. I'd love to find out if you get any funny looking combs on the adults in a couple months too.

Here is the comb variety I ended up with...

Zoet (comb developed a bit early like yours... I think around 10 weeks)... there is a thread somewhere on BYC where this was dubbed a "ribbon" comb or "noodle" comb, since it kinda looks like old fashioned ribbon candy... or a noodle:




^-- this one looked like a pea comb initially... kinda like how yours is growing... but the center row outgrew the outside rows, for lack of better description. She lays pastel green eggs- more green, less olive colored. She's also a bit of a noodle-head in general...

Then a very defined straight comb on the smallest EE (brown eggs). This one grew in early too (maybe more like 12 weeks):





My other two had "proper" pea combs. One ended up laying olive green eggs, the other (the one colored like your questionable pullet) lays very light mint green eggs.

Here's what she looks like now- I think very similar to the color of your pullet. There's at least one other Cackle EE hen in the neighborhood who is very similar looking:




^-- I never saw her exhibit roo-specific traits like chest bumping, but she is definitely a bossy/in-charge girl.

Hope this is helpful! Or, at least fun. haha

 

[PandoraChick]

I agree..I think that is a pullet too, from Cackle! I have one just like "her"!!! I will try to get a pick before the sun goes down...She even looks like a Roo in the face, but she lays beautiful green eggs..she is my bold lady of the EE's too. All the rest of our EE's from Cackle have the teeniest little combs.

 

[PandoraChick]

My girl has that noodle comb too! And she is colored the same way, and I even saw her mount another EE before!

 

[PandoraChick]

Here is Falcon, the drag chicken as we call her

 

[RoxyBird]

Pretty girl!! That *IS* a big fancy comb for an EE hen! Part of what I love about these birds is the variety!

 

[PandoraChick]

Pretty girl!! That *IS* a big fancy comb for an EE hen! Part of what I love about these birds is the variety!

Thank you! Yours are pretty too! I like your EE roo, he is quite handsome. Are they generally tame Roo's? We want to add another Roo...we got an oopsy roo from the pullet batch of partridge rocks last year and tried to keep him, but he turned into a mean guy quickly, chasing me and my daughter...he had to to be culled to the freezer
We never thought we wanted one, but now my daughter is getting older(7) and we are looking at the tamer breeds, maybe a bantam silkie roo...but I really love the EE's.

Also- are your EE hens broody? A couple of mine are, but I do not think they are broody enough to hatch...I really wanted to try this year, but as soon as I open the yard for them to free range, they hop off the eggs and run to freedom. I dont want to waste money on hatching eggs just yet.

ETA: I also wanted to tell you, our Falcon's comb started just like yours...then it turned into what it is now as she got older..she is a year this month!

 

[RoxyBird]

Thank you! Yours are pretty too! I like your EE roo, he is quite handsome. Are they generally tame Roo's? We want to add another Roo...we got an oopsy roo from the pullet batch of partridge rocks last year and tried to keep him, but he turned into a mean guy quickly, chasing me and my daughter...he had to to be culled to the freezer
We never thought we wanted one, but now my daughter is getting older(7) and we are looking at the tamer breeds, maybe a bantam silkie roo...but I really love the EE's.

Also- are your EE hens broody? A couple of mine are, but I do not think they are broody enough to hatch...I really wanted to try this year, but as soon as I open the yard for them to free range, they hop off the eggs and run to freedom. I dont want to waste money on hatching eggs just yet.

ETA: I also wanted to tell you, our Falcon's comb started just like yours...then it turned into what it is now as she got older..she is a year this month!

Oh my gosh- I'm sorry for the slow reply. I totally lost track of this thread. Mine are all hens- it was just hard to tell on a couple of them for awhile since their combs are non-typical. XD

I haven't personally had any EE roos (lucky me, since I have thus far only ordered pullets). They are sooooo handsome though- I love the poofyness in the head feathers. I haven't heard anything about behaviors.

No broody hens yet- the group I posted above are just a year old (my oldest EEs at the moment). They definitely make quite a fuss about laying though- screechy, defensive, growling noises in the nest. They definitely have the potential to be broody (showing instincts anyway)

Funny about running to freedom- mine will freak out screeching in the nest while laying if they hear anyone or anything approach (moreso than any of my other birds), but the second that gate is open they drop that whole egg laying business and just runnnnnnnnnn They also sit in the single-bird-sized nest box 2-3 at a time and all screech in tandem. Goofy birds.

 

[RoxyBird]

Here are some pics of the chick in question and also of the other chicks we currently have for comparison. These were taken yesterday. They are around 8 weeks old now...I think...I've kind of lost track of time!


Top view of chick in question.


Side view of chick in question

Did you ever find out about this pretty lady (fingers crossed still)?

 

[tabithas]

Did you ever find out about this pretty lady (fingers crossed still)?

I am now thinking that it is a pullet. There has been no more crowing, and the pushy attitude has decreased greatly since we have now intergrated them in with the big girls. The comb is still much redder that the other chicks, but really has not grown much more. I will try to post some more pics in the next couple days. They are all turning into very pretty birds, but are a bit flighty. I'm hoping they will settle down with age.